14 July 2008
BIOSECURITY AUSTRALIA ADVICE 2008/22
AMENDED INTERIM QUARANTINE CONDITIONS
FOR THE IMPORTATION OF HORSES
Following the Australian Government response to the Commission of Inquiry into Equine
Influenza, Biosecurity Australia has provided further advice to the Australian Quarantine
and Inspection Service (AQIS) to amend the interim quarantine conditions for the
importation of horses from all countries except New Zealand. Details are on Biosecurity
Australia’s website.
The latest amendments include specifying equine influenza strains in vaccines, collection of
blood samples during pre-export quarantine (PEQ), additional equine influenza testing
requirements and changes to the operational arrangements during PEQ and post-arrival
quarantine (PAQ).
On 25 September 2007 the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry appointed the
Hon Ian Callinan AC to conduct a Commission of Inquiry into the circumstances that led to
the outbreak of equine influenza in Australia in August 2007 and the need for strengthened
biosecurity procedures for the quarantine management of horses.
On 12 June 2008, the Australian Government announced that it had accepted all 38
recommendations from the Inquiry. Biosecurity Australia is responding to recommendations
for which it has particular responsibility. This includes preparations for a formal horse
import risk analysis (this will be the subject of a separate notice to stakeholders), the
commencement of visits to inspect and review activities and events at pre-export quarantine
(PEQ) premises located in exporting countries and also at post-arrival quarantine (PAQ)
premises in Australia.
Biosecurity Australia has also provided further advice to the Australian Quarantine and
Inspection Service (AQIS) to amend interim quarantine conditions for imported horses. This
follows interim conditions announced in September (BAA 2007/21) and December 2007
(BAA 2007/23) that tightened biosecurity arrangements during PEQ and PAQ, and included
amended vaccination and testing requirements for equine influenza, options to extend the
PAQ period and the operation of quarantine premises.
Post: GPO Box 858 (18 Marcus Clarke St) Canberra ACT 2601 Location: 7 London Circuit Tel: +61 2 6272 3933 www.biosecurityaustralia.gov.au
DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE,
FISHERIES
AND FORESTRY
The latest amendments include:

specifying that horses must be vaccinated with a vaccine that includes strains as
specified by the OIE Expert Surveillance Panel for equine influenza subject to current
availability in the country of export
–
Biosecurity Australia is continuing to review vaccines for equine influenza (taking
into account the countries or regions from which the horses are being exported) and
will provide advice to AQIS as further information becomes available;

requiring a blood sample to be collected during PEQ with half the sample retained in the
country of export and half sent to Australia. Both parts of the sample are to be retained
for at least three months;

additional testing for equine influenza virus post-arrival by rapid immunoassay in
addition to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests within 24 hours and five days of
arrival;

horses to be tested for equine influenza virus by PCR or antigen enzyme linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA) within three days of release from PAQ;

changes to the operational arrangements during PEQ, including that all PEQ premises
are approved by AQIS;

strengthening a range of other requirements, for example specifically requiring
personnel to shower prior to entering PEQ premises, specifying that AQIS standards for
PAQ premises clarify the requirement that grooms should not have contact with horses
outside the premises during PAQ and that cabins of vehicles transporting horses be
cleaned and disinfected if contaminated.
Biosecurity Australia is continuing to review the interim conditions to ensure that the time
of testing for equine influenza in PEQ is as close as practicable to the end of the PEQ period.
Further advice will be provided to AQIS on this. Consideration is also being given to
reducing the number of approved PEQ facilities in exporting countries to provide improved
and more practical opportunities to closely manage quarantine risks.
Interim quarantine conditions for horses are available on Biosecurity Australia’s website:
www.biosecurityaustralia.gov.au. Conditions for the temporary and permanent importation
of horses from the European Union and the United States are attached (Attachments A, B, C
and D). The latest changes are marked in bold for ease of reference.
Next steps
Biosecurity Australia will continue to assist AQIS with the implementation of these
amended interim measures.
Information on AQIS import permits can be obtained from AQIS through its website,
www.aqis.gov.au, or by facsimile (02) 6272 3110.
Information on IRAs and policy reviews being conducted by Biosecurity Australia is
available at www.biosecurityaustralia.gov.au.
Please pass this notice to other interested parties. If those parties wish to be included in
future communications on this matter they should get in touch with the contact officer
(details below).
John Cahill
Chief Executive
Contact:
Telephone:
Facsimile:
E-mail:
Jill Millan
02 6272 4723
02 6272 3399
jill.millan@biosecurity.gov.au